Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH) said some of President Donald Trump’s executive orders have gone too far by usurping the authority of Congress.

Since taking office a month ago for the second time, Trump has issued a spate of executive orders – some of which are potentially illegal. Of particular concern has been the “Department of Government Efficiency” led by billionaire Republican donor Elon Musk. Along with a group of young staffers, Musk has fired scores of federal employees and frozen funds already appropriated by Congress. The moves have prompted a series of lawsuits, including a challenge to Musk’s access to sensitive data at the U.S. Treasury.

Speaking at a Westerville Area Chamber business lunch on Thursday, Balderson said Trump’s executive orders are “getting out of control.”

“Congress has to decide whether or not the Department of Education goes away,” Balderson told local business leaders in attendance, according to The Columbus Dispatch. “Not the president, not Elon Musk. Congress decides.”

Though the congressman expressed support for the efforts of Musk and DOGE to downsize the federal government, he said, “Congress has to do their work.”

The White House has given conflicting accounts as to whether Musk is in charge of the de facto government organization. In a legal filing submitted on Monday, the Trump administration stated that Musk is “not an employee of the U.S. DOGE Service or the U.S. DOGE Service temporary organization.” Instead, the billionaire is “an employee of the White House office” and “a Senior Advisor to the President.”

But on Wednesday, Trump contradicted that claim.

“I signed an order creating the Department of Government Efficiency and put a man named Elon Musk in charge,” Trump said. “Thank you, Elon, for doing it. And he’s doing a great job.”

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